The paving project, stretching from Chimneys Picnic Area to Newfound Gap, began in February and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30. Due to heavy summer traffic, all work is now taking place at night. Daytime work will not resume until Aug. 16.

Visitors traveling between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sundays through Fridays should expect delays. Lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones. Some parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently. There will be no lane closures on weekends or holidays. 

The work is being done through an $8.5 million paving contract that the Federal Highway Administration awarded to Burnsville-based Bryant’s Land Development Industries Inc. A pavement preservation treatment is being applied to a 6-mile section of roadway with a full pavement rehabilitation for the remaining 2 miles. 

Road condition updates are posted at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm and @smokiesroadsnps on Twitter.